Bishop Col John Kwamena Otoo (Rtd), former Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Anglican Church, Ghana has stated that Ghana needs leaders who are transformational now since political leaders have changed the concept of leadership by what they have exhibited when given the mandate to serve.
He observed that the concept of leadership has been misunderstood in the country in the sense that leadership is seen always in terms of the one who has authority, power, and who can deliver and people will obey.
“I think it is time Ghana gets leaders who will exhibit true service as the real mark of a leader. So to make transformational leaders, people who have acquired skills, knowledge and all the necessary qualities but do not lord it over the people but are prepared to extend it to others”, he emphasized.
Bishop Otoo made the remark in an interview at the sidelines of the 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving of the Air Force Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Takoradi, on the theme, “Raising Transformational Leaders for the Growth and Development of the Church.”
He defined transformational leaders as “leaders who are prepared to serve and do not seek their own glory but want people to share in whatever capacity, gifts and values they have, and leaders who do not want to stay in power and enjoy it all alone but to share it”.
He called on people in leadership to allow the youth to learn that a leader was not one with power, glory and people worshipping him/her, but one that puts his/her cure, knowledge, values and gifts at the disposal of the rest being a servant to the people.
He also implored Christians especially, the clergy to follow the exemplary life of Christ who served humanity in humility and not scrambling for titles, positions and demonstrating showmanship which are the secular concepts of leadership and must be far from the church.
According to the retired Bishop, the church must portray that it is only in humility that greatness emerges as enshrined in the Bible so that when they admit their weakness and looks to God, his strength will be made perfect in them.
“All that the church has to play now is to let people see that greatness lies in humility, in service and leadership. Unless the church continues to paint that picture, all the big people in the Bible we read about were all servants and became great because they took God’s word and served”, he opined.
He noted that Ghanaians had allowed themselves to be over-influenced by westerners who had no culture, principles and faith and underscored the need to revisit the past where our values, faith and morals were shining lights on our path.
“Let’s go back to our basics, let’s not throw away our corporal punishment in disciplining our children even though there have been some excesses which should be frowned on but not to throw away our traditions, culture and values entirely”, he pointed out.
Story: Seth A Danquah
